Apparatus for charging cuplas



May 1945. H. 1.. KUEHLTHAU APPARATUS FOR CHARGING CUPOLAS,

2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1942 IgoLiifzefiZ au V 1 I a Eiiiiiii I; lllllll l I4 M a x m y 1945. H. KUEHLTHAU APPARATUS FOR CHARGING CUPOLAS Filed June 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patenie d May 8, 1945 2,375,311 APPARATUS FOR OH ARGING CUPOLAS Hugo L. Kuehlthau, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Whiting tion of Illinois orporation, Harvey, 111., a corpora- Applicaflon June 15, 1942, Serial No. 447,174'

15 Claims.

The invention relates to apparatus for charging cupolas.

The objects of the invention-are to provide apparatus for charging vcupolas: which includes a stationary track outside of the cupola for guiding a bucket-carriage to travel from a loading station outside of the cupola through the chargingopening for delivering the charge into the melting chamber, and hoisting mechanism for moving the carriage vertically and laterally; which includes automatic means for discharging the contents of the bucket when it reaches its unloading position in the cupola to shorten the period during which the bucket remains in the stack of the cupola and eliminate the necessity of manual control for precision stopping of the bucket in its discharging position; in which the bucket will swing and drag over any obstruction in the cupola as it moves to its charging station and will not spill its contents while the bucket is being raised into the cupola; which includes a bucket of the clam-bottom type for uniform distribution of the charge in the cupola which is adapted to quickly open and to be locked until positively released: in which the hoisting mechanism is of such a character that the bucket will be lowered by gravity and requires noreversal in the operation of the hoisting mechanism; in which the bucket which enters the cupola has a great capacity; in which flexible hoisting elements, such as cables, can be used for hoisting the bucket; by which it is possible to charge the cupola substantially to the level of the charging opening; in which the track for guiding the bucket-carriage is entirely outside of the cupola so that it will not be subjected to excessive heat; which is simple in construction, eiiicient in operation and has a low maintenance and repair cost.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cupola equipped with the improved charging apparatus. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the bucket and the carriage in which the bucket is pivotally supported. Fig. 3 is a plan, the cupola being shown in section. Fig. 4 is aside elevation illustrating the bucketcarriage in the position assumed when the bucket is discharging its load into the melting chamber. Fig. 5 is a section of the cupola taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing the bucket in its discharging station. Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

The invention is exemplified with a cupola a for melting metal, which may be of usual construction. The cupola is provided with a stack a and a charging opening a in the front side I the upper ends of standards I).

of the cupola above the melting chamber. The cupola is supported upon a structure a above floor level. The material to be melted is delivered into the stack through the opening a and dropped into, and distributed in, the melting chamber.

The charging-apparatus is supported by a framework or structure comprising standards b,

tically in the cupola where its load is discharged into the melting chamber.

The beams In, which form a part of the supporting structure, are transversely aligned, and disposed at opposite sides and outside of the cupola, have inwardly facing channels which form a track for guiding the bucket-carriage in its upward movement from the floor-pit 9 and its lateral movement through the charging-opening a and then vertically in the stack of the cupola. ,The beams ID are secured to frames bk'b, b and The beams iii are transversely aligned, and each comprises a portion or member li'l which extends vertically and'upwardly from the bottom of the pit 9, an upper laterally offset portion or member Ill secured to the inner faces 01' the standards b and an inclined connection portion or member l0 between the upper end of member Ill and the lower end of member Ill to form a continuous track for guiding the bucket-carriage from the pit to the discharge opening a, then laterally and angularly through the discharge opening into the stack of the cupola and then upwardly in the stack. This exemplifies a track formed by the transversely alig ed channel beams III which is adapted to guide the carriage d and the bucket 0 carried thereby to travel from its loading station in the pit 9 to its unloading position in the stack.

The bucket c is pivotally suspended in a traveling carriage d, the vertical and lateral move ments of which are controlled by the track formed by the beams Ill. The carriage d comprises a rigid tubular cross-member I I, arms l2 which are rigid with the cross member I l and disposed at the sides of the bucket c. The bucket is pivotally suspended from the-distal end of arms l2 by co-axial trunnions l3 on the bucket. The ends of the arms l2 which carry the bucket are adapted to pass through'the charging-opening a to pass thebucket laterally through said open- H which are rigid with sleeve I l and arms l2, are

ing and into the stack of the cupola. a bar or cross-member I rigidly connects the arms l2 and side-members l4. The carriage d also com- I i prises transversely aligned side-members'or arms spaced apart transversely so they will travel out-' I side of the sides of the cupola. Rollers it are suitably journaled on one end of the carriage d substantially co-axially with the cross-member II, and are adapted to travel and are guided in I theinwardly facing channels of the beams Ill, 1 respectively. Rollers H are suitably iournaled i on trunnions Il atthe othervend of the carriage j and on the outer side of side-member or arms l4 1 and are also adaptedto travel in the inwardly 1 l9 and I! are traveling in the vertical portion Ill of the track, the carriage It will travel vertically in a rectilinear path. When the rollers l'l, duri ing the hoisting of the carriage, reach and trav- 1 erse the inclined connecting member 1 01 the track, the arms l2 of carriage it will be swung j i inwardly toward and through the charging-open- 1 ing a.

inclined member 13 into the upper vertical por- When the rollers I1 travel from the tion Ill of the track, the trunnions l3 will move rectilinearly upward until the bucket reaches its unloading position over the melting chamber in .20 movement of the carriaged. While the rollers the cupola. During the lowering movement. of l the carriage and bucket, they will travel down- 1 wardly through the same path. This carriage j exemplifies one which pivotally supports the 3 bucket and is guided vertically and angularly by i the stationary track outside of the cupola so the 1 I bucket will travel from the loading station in pit j 9 through the charging-opening a and then 5 upwardly. .to its discharging station.

The hoisting mechanism for the carriage d 1 and bucket c comprises an electric motor l8 which is mounted on an elevated hoisting platform l9,

suitable transmission and speed reducing gearing contained in a box 20, a winding drum 2| driven 1 1 by the output shaft of the gearing in box 20, a n 1 pair of cables 22 which are connected respectively by collars 26 to the trunnions H for the rollers From the drum, the cables 22 pass, while the carriage d is guided by the portion ID of the 1 track, around sheaves 23, respectively, which are 1 supported from the framework adjacent the 1 upper ends of standards I), thence around sheaves 24, which are mounted on frame-plates and i thence vto collars 26, which are pivoted to trunnions I'l During the upward travel of the carriage in members III, cables 22 will be guided by 1 rollers 24 so that the pull upon the carriage will be substantially vertical. When the rollers l1 travel past the sheaves 24 in the upward travel of the carriage d, they will leave the sheaves 24 and sheaves 23. During the upward movement of the rollers l'l after the bucket has been shifted into the stack of the cupola; the pull will be directly upward upon the end of the carriage to which the cables are connected. This exemplifies hoisting the pull of the cables will be inclined toward the 1 sections 32 into open position, as shown in Fig; 5, comprises a pair of bars 34 which are vertically 1 slidabl in blocks 35 which are fixed to the sides of the bucket, respectively, a pair of oppositely extending links 36 pivoted at 31 to the bars 34, respectively, and a link 38 between the outer end of each link 36, and the side of one bucket section 32. Each link 36 is adapted to fulcrum on a pin 39- which is fixed to the bucket. The bottom sections 32 are locked in their closed position at each side thereof by a latch 49, which is pivoted at 4| to one bucket section, and is adapted to engage a pin 42 On the other bucket section to lock the sections against outward pivotal move ment and in position to close the bottom of the bucket. A spring 43 is applied to one end of latch 40 to normally hold it in its locking position. Each slidable bar 34 has secured to its lower end a strip 44 which is adapted, when the bar is lowered, to strike the latch 40 and disengage it from pin 42. The off-center weight of the bottom sections 32 of the bucket causes them to close by gravity and to raise the bars 34 when they are released. Stop-blocks 46 ar fixedly secured in the upper end of the stack of the cupola and positioned to engage the bars 34 after the bucket has been shifted laterally to the center of the stack of the cupola so that the bottom sections 32 will be automatically opened by the hoisting of the carriage when it reaches the discharging station. This exemplifies means for automatically discharging the load from the bucket when it reaches its unloading position.

The bucket is lowered into the pit 9 for convenience in loading it from floor level. A saddleblock 41 is provided on the bottom of the pit 9, whichconforms to the arcuate bottom sections 32 of the bucket so that thelatter will be positively supported during the loading of the bucket. The block 41 is formed of sections with a space 48 between them through which the arms l2 and members l4 of the carriage d and the sleeve H of. the carriage can travel below the bucket. A ladder 49 is supported from one of the beams ID for access by the operator to and from the platform 19.

The operation will be as follows: Assuming the bucket c to be in its load-receiving position in the pit 9, and loaded with a charge of material, the hoisting drum 2| will be operated to wind the cables 22. The cables through their connections with the trunnions l'l of the carriage d will lift the carriage and the bucket vertically until the rollers I1 reach the inclined portion |0 of the track-forming beams Ill. The continued pull on the cables will cause the rollers ll to swing the frame d on the trunnions of rollers It so that the bucket supporting trunnions l3 and the adjacent ends of arms l2 will move in an upwardly inclined path through the charging-opening a of the stack. After the rollers ll pass into the vertical member Ill of the track, they and the bucket will travel rectilinearly upward. During the angular movements of the carriage the bucket is suspended by the trunnions l3 from arms I! so that it will remain vertical to retain its load. When the bars 34 encounter fixed stopblocks 46 in the stack the continued pull on the cables 22 and the upward movement of the body of the bucket will cause strips 44 to release latches 40 and to shift links 36 and 38 to swing the bottom sections 32 into their open position so that the charge will be deposited into the meltin chamber. The carriage d is guided to its centralized position in the stack by the track without requiring any control by the operator, and the bucket is automatically opened to discharge its load when it reaches its charging station. As soon as the load has been discharged the winding drum will be released and the carriage d and bucket will be lowered by gravity to reverse their travel from load discharging to load receiving position. When bars 34 move away from blocks 46, the bottom sections 32 will automatically close by gravity.

The invention exemplifies cupola charging apparatus in which the movements of the bucketsupportin carriage are controlled to travel v'ertically in front of the cupola from the pit 9 through the charging opening and to the charging-station by means of a track which controls the vertical and swinging movement of the carriage. The track for controlling the direction of movement of the frame is located entirely outside of the cupola, and the carriage comprises means operating outside of the cupola by which the track controls its direction and with arms in which the bucket is pivotally suspended which pass through the charging-opening. The invention makes it possible to use hoisting cables for raising and lowering the carriage and frame around the track. The bucket passes into its correct discharging position and is automatically opened at the end of each lifting operation and automatically closed when the carriage is lowered. The invention makes it possible to use a bucket of high capacity and to discharge the load for uniform distribution in the melting chamber. The bottom members of the bucket, after being initially shifted from their'closed position, are

pivoted so that the weight of the load will assist in quickly opening them, and so they will close by gravity. The over-travel of the bucket eliminates the necessity for prevision stopping and adds to the life of the hoisting ropes. The construction is simple and requires a minimum number of working parts, all of which are accessible for maintenance or repair.

The invention is notto be. understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Havin thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a carriage provided with longitudinally extending sides and supported by pivotally mounted elements at both ends of said sides, an arm rigidly connected for swinging movement with, and to one end of, the carriage, having a free end between and adjacent the opposite end of the carriage-sides and adapted to pass through the charging opening of the cupola, a bottom-discharging bucket carried by the free end of said arm and adapted to pass through the charging opening, transversely aligned track members external of the cupola, each having a vertically extending lower portion and an inclined portion at the upper end of the lower portion, said portions forming a continuous single runway for the elements by which the carriage is supported at both ends of the carriage-sides, for guiding the carriage so that the arm will successively travel in a vertical path from a load receiving position and then in an inclined path to move the free end of the arms and bucket through the charg ing opening into the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

2. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a carriage provided with longitudinally extending sides and supported by pivotally mounted elements at both ends of the sides, a pair of arms rigidly connected for swinging movement with,

and to one end of, the carriage, having free ends between and adjacent the opposite end of the carriage-sides and adapted to'pass though the charging-opening of the cupola, a bottom-discharging bucket between and directly pivoted to the free ends of said arms and adapted to pass through the charging opening. transversely aligned track members external of the cupola, each having a vertically extending lower portion and an inclined portion joined to the upper end of the lower portion, forming a continuous single runway for the elements by which the'carriage is supported at both ends of the carriage sides, for guiding the supporting elements so the arms on the carriage will successively travel in a vertical path from a load receiving position and then in an inclined path to move the free ends of the arms and bucket through the charging opening into the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

3. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a carriage provided with longitudinally extending sides and a rigid cross-connection between the sides at one end of the carriage, rollers by which the carriage is pivotally supported at both ends of the sides, an arm rigidly connected for swinging movement with, and to one end of, the carriage and having a free end between and adjacent the opposite end of the carriage-sides and adapted to pass through the charging-opening of the cupola, a bottom discharging bucket carried by the free end of said arm and adapted to pass through the charging opening, transversely aligned track members external 01 the cupola, each having a vertically extending lower portion and an inclined portion at the upper end of the lower portion, said portions forming a continuous single runway for the rollers on both ends of the carriage, respectively, for guiding the rollers so the arm on the carriage will successively travel vertically from a load receiving position and then in an inclined path to move the free end of the arm through the charging opening into the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

4. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a carriage provided with longitudinally extending sides, rollers by which the carriage is pivotally supported at both ends of the sides, a pair of arms rigidly connected to one end of, and to swing with, the carriage and having free ends between and adjacent the opposite end of thecarriage sides and adapted to pass through the charging opening of the cupola, a bottom discharging bucket between and directly pivoted to the free ends of said arms and adapted to pass through the charging opening, transversely aligned track members external of the cupola, each having vertically extending upper and lower said portions forming a continuous single runway for the rollers on both ends of the carriage sides, for guiding the rollers so the arm on the carriage lwill successively travel vertically trom a load receiving position, then in an inclined path to move the free ends of the arms through the charging opening into the cupola and then guide the roll: ers at one end to travel upwardly after the [free ends of the arms are in the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the car-jriage.

5. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a carriage provided with longitudinally extending sides having one 01' their ends spaced apartttransversely to straddle the cupola and supported by pivotally mounted elements at both ends of the sides, a pair of arms rigidly connected to one end of and to swing with the carriage, having free ends between and adjacent the spaced apart ends of the carriage-sides, and adapted to pass thrugh the charging opening of the cupola, a bottom-discharging bucket carried by the free ends of said arms and adapted to pass through the charging-opening, transversely aligned track members external of the cupola and disposed in planes outwardly oi. the sides of the cupola, each having a vertically extending lower portion and an inclined portion joined to the upper end of the lower portion and at the sides of the cupola, said portions forming a continuous single runway for the elements by which the carriage is supported at both ends of the carriage-sides, respectively, for guiding the supporting elements so the free ends of the arms will travel vertically from a load receiving position, then successively in inclined and upward directions to move the free ends of the arms and bucket through the charging opening into the cupola and then up wardly in the cupola while the carriage-sides travel on the outside of the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

6. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a carriage'provided with longitudinally extending having free ends between and adjacent the opposite ends of the carriage-sides and adapted to pass through the charging opening of the cupola, a box-like bucket between said arms, pins between and pivotally connecting the sides of the box-like body and the free ends of said arms substantially coaxiailly with the elements by which the carriage is supported at one of its ends, tranversely aligned track members external of the cupola, each having vertically extending upper and lower portions and an intermediate inclined portion, said portions forming a continuous common runway for the elements by which the carriage is supported at both ends of the carriage-sides, respectively, for guiding the carriage to travel vertically from a load receiving position then in an inclined path to move the free ends of the arms and the bucket through the V charging opening, and then upwardly in the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

8. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a carriage provided with longitudinally extending sides and supported by pivotally mounted elements at both ends of said sides, an arm rigidly connected to on end of and to swing with the carriage, having a free end between and adjacent the opposite end of the carriage-sides and adapted topass through the charging opening of the cupola, a bottom discharging bucket carried by the free end of said arm and adapted to pass through the charging opening, transversely aligned track members provided with substantially inwardly facing channels and parallel flanges between which the elements by which the carriage is supported at both of its ends are confined and guided, each of the flanges having a vertically extending lower portion and an inclined portion at the upper end of the lower portion, the flanges forming a continuous, single runway for the elements by which the carriage is supported at both ends of the carriage-sides for guiding the carriage so that th arm will successively travel in a vertical path from a load receiving position then in an inclined path to move the free end of the arm and bucket through the charging opening into the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

9. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a I carriage provided with longitudinally extending members external or the cupola and disposed in 7 planes outwardly of the sides of the cupola, each having vertically extending upper and lower portions and an intermediate inclined portion, said portions forming a continuous common runway for the elements by which the carriage is sup-1 ported at both ends of the carriage-sides, re-- spectively, for guiding the supporting elements so the free ends of the arms will successively travel vertically from a load receiving position, then in an inclined path to move the ends of the arms and bucket through the charging opening into the cupola while the carriage-sides travel at the sides of the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

7. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a carriage provided with longitudinally extending sides, and supported by pivotally mounted ele ments at both ends of said sides, a pair of arms rigidly connected to one end of the carriage,

sides and supported by pivotally mounted elements at both ends of said sides, an arm rigidly connected to one'end of and to swing with the carriage, having a free end between and adjacent the opposite end of the carriage-sides and adapted to pass through the charging opening of the cupola, a bottom-discharging bucket carried by the free end of said arm and adapted to pass through the charging opening, transversely aligned track members provided with substantially inwardly facing channels and parallel flanges between which the elements by which the carriage is supported at both of its ends are confined and guided, each of the flanges having a vertically extending lower portion, an inclined portion at the upper end of th lower portion and an upwardly extending portion at the upper end of the inclined portion, the flanges forming a continuous single runway for the supporting elements on both ends of the carriage-sides for guiding the carriage so that the arm will successively travel in a vertical path from a load receiving position then in an inclined path to move the free end of the arm and bucket through the charging opening into the cupola, and then upwardly in the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

10. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a carriage provided with longitudinally extending sides, rollers on and by which the carriage is pivotally supported at both ends of said sides, an arm rigidly connected to one end of and to swing with the carriage, having a free end between and adjacent the opposite end of the carriage sides and adapted to pass through the charging openipg of the cupola, a bottom-discharging bucket carried by the free end of said arm and adapted to pass through the charging opening, transversely aligned track members provided with substantially parallel flanges between which the rollers on both ends of the carriage fit, each of the flanges aving a vertically extending lower.

portion and an inclined portion at the upper end of the lower portion, the flanges forming a continuous single runway for the rollers on both carriage supported by pivotally mounted elements at both of its ends, a pair of arms rigidly connected to the carriage, having free ends adapted to pass through the charging opening of the cupola, a bucket directly pivoted to the free ends of said arms provided with a drop bottom for discharging its contents and releasable locking means for locking the bottom in its closed position, means for guiding the elements by which the carriage is supported to travel upwardly from a load receiving positionand then in an inclined path to ends of the carriage-sides for guiding the carriage so that the arm will successively travel in a vertical path from a load receiving position then in an inclined path to move the free end of the arm and bucket through the charging opening into the cupola, and then upwardly -in the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

11. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a carriage supported by pivotally mounted elements at both of its ends, a pair of arms rigidly connected to the carriage, having free ends adapted to pass through the charging opening of the cupola, a bucket pivoted to the upper ends of said arms provided with a movable .drop bottom for discharging its contents, means for guiding the supporting elements on the carriage to travel upwardly from a load receiving position and then in an inclined path to move the free ends of the arms and bucket through the charging opening into the cupola and for guiding the elements by which the carriage is supported upwardly outside of the cupola, means in the upper end of the cupola for causing the shift oi! the bottom of the bucket to its open position responsively to the upward travel of the bucket in the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

12. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a carriage supported by pivotally mounted elements at both of its ends, a pair of arms rigidly connected to the carriage, having free ends adapted to pass through the charging opening of the cupola, a bucket pivoted to the upper ends of said arms provided with a drop bottom for dischar ing its contents and releasable locking means for locking the bottom in its closed position, means for guiding the elements by which the carriage is supported to travel upwardly from a load receiving position and then in an inclined path to move the free ends of the arms and bucket through the charging opening into the cupola and for guiding the carriage so the free end of the arm will travel upwardly outside of the cupola, fixed means in the upper end of the cupola for causing the release of the bottom locking means responsively to the upward travel of the bucket in the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

13. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a "adapted to receive the bucket,

move the free ends of the arms and bucket through the charging opening into the cupola and for guiding the carriage so the free ends of the arms will travel upwardly in the cupola, fixed means in the upper end of the cupola for causing the release of the bottom locking means responsively to the upward travel of the bucket in the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

14. Cupola charging apparatus comprisin a carriage provided with longitudinally extending sides supported by pivotally mounted elements at both ends of said sides, a pair of arms rigidly connected to one end of and to swing with the carriage, having free ends adjacent the opposite ends of the carriage and adapted to pass through the charging opening of the cupola, a bottomdischarging bucket carried by the free ends of and between said arms, a pit below ground level transversely aligned track members external of the cupola each having a lower portion in the pit and extending upwardly therefrom and an inclined portion at the upper end of the lower portion, said portions forming a continuous single runway for the elements by which the carriage is supported at both ends, from the pit and for guiding the carriage so it will successively travel vertically in and above the pit, and then in an inclined path to move the free ends of the arms and the bucket through the charging opening into the cupola, and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

15. Cupola charging apparatus comprising a carriage provided with longitudinally extendin sides supported by pivotally mounted elements at both ends of said sides, a pair of arms rigidly connected to one end of and to swing with the carriage, having free ends adjacent the opposite ends of the carriage and adapted to pass through the charging opening of the cupola, a bottom-discharging bucket carried by the free ends of and to move the free ends of the arms and the bucket through the charging opening into the cupola. and hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage.

HUGH L. KUEHL'IHAU. 

